Cashback is based on an original Oscar-nominated short film by writer/director/producer Shaun Ellis. A 'Best Short Film' winner at no less than twelve international film festivals, it is a breezy, wisecracking, low-budget, romantic comedy, aptly described by Hollywood Reporter as 'Clerks' with nudity.
Cashback has been waiting for payback at the box office for about a year or so. The film is set in a local Sainsbury's and follows the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of supermarket staff as they engage in trolley races and are roped into a footie team by the manager.
Into this world comes Ben Willis (Biggerstaff) who suffering from insomnia, opts to take on a nightshift job at Sainsbury's and finds that a lack of sleep enables him to suspend time. With the world on pause, he can make more personal reflections, as well as worship the naked form of women.
Ben is rebounding from his Ex, Suzy (Eastender Michelle Ryan), and falls for gawky Sharon (Fox), a cashdesk operator who also has the effect of reviving Ben's painting ability.
Cashback will have particular appeal to readers of Nuts and Zoo and page 3, as Ben often suspends time and finds a way to see all the women customers in the store topless. It's perhaps not surprising therefore to see that one of those female customers is played by Page 3 model Keeley Hazell. It's a lecherous side to the film that seems unnecessary somehow, not that I'm complaining.
Cashback is strongest when the young male backroom staff are playing pranks on each other and it has some great funny moments. The story is fairly predictable - you always know who Ben is going to end up with, but is also a bit of an oddity since we all know that Ben couldn't really go months on end without daily sleep and if he did, the last thing that would happen, would be that his mind and brain would become sharper.
Emilia Fox is breezily captivating as the target of Ben's affections and the supporting actors who make up the fellow members of Ben's shopfloor team are well cast and believable.
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